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Necrophagist Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

Tense after didn't know

I didn't know you had fought in the war. This seems correct to me but I'm pretty sure I've heard native speakers use I didn't know you + past simple referring to something somebody did in the past. Would it be fine to just say: I didn't know you fought in the war. Keep in mind that the war is now over and it has been for some time.

  

Top answer

Necrophagist Would it be fine to just say: I didn't know you fought in the war. Yes.

— GPY

  • Necrophagist Would it be fine to just say: I didn't know you fought in the war.
  • Yes.
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2 Answers
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NecrophagistWould it be fine to just say: I didn't know you fought in the war.

Yes.

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NecrophagistI didn't know you fought in the war.

I take this to be the default reply for the case when you have just found out from someone that he fought in the war.

NecrophagistI didn't know you had fought in the war.

I take this to represent the less common case where you two had been friends for years and began

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